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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. row — to paddle
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. bound — obliged
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. bound — tied together
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. toast — bread
  10. suit — to fit
  11. row — a line
  12. bound — certain
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. suit — clothes
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. roll — a cake
  22. suit — in cards
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. roll — a list

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com